What are Checks and Balances?

Checks and balances refers to a fundamental principle within the U.S. Constitution designed to ensure that no single branch of government—executive, legislative, or judicial—holds excessive power. This system creates a framework where each branch has the authority to monitor and limit the actions of the others, thereby maintaining a balance of power among them. For instance, while the legislative branch makes laws, the executive branch can veto those laws, and the judicial branch has the power to interpret laws and declare them unconstitutional if they violate the Constitution. This interaction ensures that power is distributed and prevents any one branch from dominating the government, thereby protecting democratic principles and ensuring accountability.

The other options do not align with this definition. The process of electing representatives is integral to democracy but does not directly address the mechanism of power balance among branches. Gathering public opinion through surveys is a separate aspect of democratic practice, focused on understanding citizen views. Meanwhile, enhancing executive power contradicts the checks and balances principle, as the system is specifically put in place to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.